Mark Menghi

Well, it’s time for album number 2 from METAL ALLEGIANCE the band featuring Alex Skolnick, Mark Menghi, Mike Portnoy & David Ellefson. Casper got to sit and have a killer chat with Mark Menghi ins and out about this new release.

It began as a celebration of heavy metal, powered by the almost tribal bond shared between the extreme music community’s most revered trailblazers, armed with a list of contributors onstage (and off) that read like a Wikipedia entry on the genre itself. Now, with their second album, METAL ALLEGIANCE achieves the seemingly impossible once again. Beyond any doubt, the all-star “project” has cemented its position as a trueband.

An adrenaline-soaked, thrash-worshipping, groove-driven, diverse, yet more sharply focused effort than its no-less-impressive predecessor, the mere existence and urgent brilliance of Volume II: Power Drunk Majesty silences any doubt as to the band’s earnest intention, purposeful resolve, and resilient dedication to all things heavy metal.

That singular tenacity, once the time is carved out, extends itself to the traditional vibe of the band’s writing methodology, as well. “We don’t just phone it in,” bassist and co-founder David Ellefson explains. “These are real songs, written by real humans, in the same room. As complicated as it often makes our lives to do that, it’s a real band.”

“We wrote these songs, in my basement, playing them in rehearsals before we ever hit record,” adds drummer and co-founder Mike Portnoy. “It’s important to stress that this isn’t one of those email projects where everybody just sends files back and forth. Like a garage band, each of these songs began with playing together, banging it out, old school.” He likens the energy to METALLICA’s Kill ‘Em All and EXODUS’ Bonded By Blood.

Emerging from prolific writing/jamming sessions with two different configurations of the group’s four co-founders, with nine guest vocalists across ten tracks, Volume II: Power Drunk Majesty boasts new METAL ALLEGIANCE anthems like ‘Bound By Silence,’ ‘Liars & Thieves,’ ‘Mother Of Sin,’ and ‘The Accuser,’ alongside the esoteric mood of ‘Voodoo Of The Godsend’ and expansive album closer ‘Power Drunk Majesty (Part II).’

Lyrical missives abound, many of them reflecting the frustrating state of the world, through an aggressive perspective that transcends partisanship in favor of unbridled rage. Bassist/co-founder Mark Menghi, in particular, had a lot to get off of his chest. “It’s not a political record with a liberal or conservative agenda,” he says. “It’s about what American society is becoming today and how much it sucks to be a pawn in the system.” There’s an equal amount of emotional exorcisms conducted on the album as well, as Menghi, in particular, went through a period of upheaval and turmoil in his private life.

Volume II: Power Drunk Majesty presents a cohesive vision, a straight-ahead almost throwback thrash attack that’s still grooving and modern. “With both albums, we got together to see what would happen and in both situations, we surprised ourselves,” says guitarist/co-founder Alex Skolnick.“On the first album, we were like kids in a candy store. It’s a diverse record, which is great. On this one, we went for a more unified sound, and with fewer guests.”

Getting the core of METAL ALLEGIANCE together once is nothing short of a minor miracle, considering the complex crisscross of schedules and outside obligations. That Ellefson, Menghi, Portnoy, and Skolnick have written and performed together multiple times and produced not one but two studio albums are nothing short of astounding. It’s evidence of their total commitment to the spirit that METAL ALLEGIANCE embodies, to the force of their unique creative chemistry, and to the fans.

The year after they first performed as METAL ALLEGIANCE on MOTÖRHEAD’s Motörboat Cruise in 2014, the group issued a surprise debut album of original material, packed with the caliber of guests that crowds at their live shows would rightfully expect. Considering songs like ‘Pledge Of Allegiance,’ ‘Let Darkness Fall,’ and ‘Can’t Kill The Devil’ rose to the level of excellence of the myriad iconic acts associated with them, it was inevitable that lightning would strike twice with the arrival of the sophomore set from the band.

The first METAL ALLEGIANCE album featured contributions from past and present members of LAMB OF GOD, SLAYER, EXODUS, PANTERA, MACHINE HEAD, LACUNA COIL, JUDAS PRIEST, ARCH ENEMY, and ANTHRAX to name but a few. On »Volume II: Power Drunk Majesty«, the core membership is once again strengthened by a small army of friends, an eclectic mix of metal legends, visionaries, and firebrands.

Bush debuted ‘Bound By Silence,’ one of the songs written over an initial jamming period of four days (with lyrics inspired by a late night conversation Menghi had in a bar with a terminally ill Vietnam veteran) with METAL ALLEGIANCE at the House of Blues in Anaheim in January, 2018. “John Bush is one of my favorite all time heavy metal singers of my generation,” says Ellefson.

‘The Accuser,’ which opens the album, was another song that came together quickly, featuring lyrics co-written by both of the band’s bass players. “Trevor Strnad is somebody from a newer generation of metal and doing it really well; he killed that track,” enthuses Skolnick, who is responsible for much of the vocal phrasing on the LP.

Skolnick was similarly impressed with the Dutch singer who handles the album’s closer. “Floor from NIGHTWISH, what a musician! She came up with this whole new melody. The way it interacts with the music, it’s almost like an instrumental. It’s beautiful.”

Menghi relished the opportunity to collaborate lyrically with Blitz (‘Mother Of Sin’) and Tornillo (‘Terminal Illusion’), particularly given the deeply personal nature of the subject matter, which he shared with the singers in the process. The two bass players of METALALLEGIANCE did a strong amount of lyrical collaboration, as well. “Dave is the king of the one-liners,” says Menghi.

Skolnick’s virtuoso, tasteful and melodic lead guitar work is joined by guest soloists who represent a wide spectrum of generations and styles: Andreas Kisser (SEPULTURA), who regularly appears with METALALLEGIANCE live; Nita Strauss (ALICE COOPER), and the one-time guitar teacher for a pre-TESTAMENT teenaged AlexSkolnick, Joe Satriani.

Menghi, who worked as an executive in the musical equipment industry, was thrilled when Satriani quickly accepted the band’s invitation. “It’s completely humbling to have people I looked up to growing up now saying ‘yes’ to my phone call or text. It’s crazy.”

“Working with Mike, Dave, and Alex is always awesome,” he adds. “I put the most pressure on myself. I have the most to prove. I have to be on my A-game at all times. I have to exceed all expectations. At the end of the day, I get to do what I want to hear as a metal fan and I’ve gotten to write and record with about 40+ musicians, people like Phillip Anselmo, Randy Blythe, Bobby Blitz. It’s incredible.”

Now two albums deep, METAL ALLEGIANCE stands triumphantly as more than a project.

“As much as METAL ALLEGIANCE started as kind of an all-star party atmosphere, once we did the first record, it showed we clearly had some artistic merit,”Ellefson observes. “We wanted to do a second one, so when we go out and we perform, whenever and wherever that may be, we have even more material that the fans of our individual bands can sink their teeth into and really get behind as an artistic endeavor.”

Portnoy agrees. “METAL ALLEGIANCE is a labor of love and gives me an outlet that I don’t have in any of my other bands or projects. Dave, Alex, Mark, and all of the regulars who tour with us, like Gary Holt, Mark Osegueda, Andreas, I love all of these guys. They’re just cool to hang out with, they’re fun to jam with. This is so much a part of what I love to do that I personally always try to make time for it whenever I’m asked.”

Power Drunk Majesty marks the return of metal masters Dave Ellefson, Mark Menghi, Mike Portnoy and Alex Skolnick as the ‘Core Four’ protagonists who make up the mighty metal treasure trove that is Metal Allegiance.

Six years of from the Fallen Heroes EP and three on from their debut album, this fantastic four return with a sophomore collection that truly illustrates their mastery at the cauldron of metal collaboration. The concept of allegiance and this album in context are exemplified by the superb selection of the perfect vocal contributors accompanying the instrumental diversity and raw excellence.

The organic cohesion achieved and maintained throughout this magnificent collection is astonishing but makes perfect sense when considering the individuals responsible. This is one album that should adorn every metal collection as a shining light of genre celebration and the epitome of collaborative brilliance.

One wonders with each offering, which came first? The song or the vocalist?

This question is put to rest by Dave Ellefson in a recent chat I had with him about this very collection and can be heard here and his response does come as a bit of a shock.

The ‘same room sound’ translates immediately with the opening track and illustrates that the ‘file share style’ of musical collaboration will not do at all for this outfit. They feed on the inherent connection that can only be derived from being in the same room, at the same time, with a singular objective.

Despite the necessity for guest artists as an integral and key critical component of the Metal Allegiance philosophy, the decision to reduce the volume of guests has provided an opportunity for the ‘Core Four’ to concentrate their efforts and resulted in work of unprecedented grandeur and musical excellence. This is surely testament (pun intended) to their individual status as metal masters all, because to achieve this cohesion on such a diverse album is something few would have the cojones to even attempt.

The Accuser is a phenomenal opener and sets the scene for the album to perfection whilst powerfully throwing forth the skill of Trevor Strnad of The Black Dahlia Murder.

Bound By Silence follows forcefully and features John Bush of Armoured Saint. This poignant and powerful track was reportedly prompted by a barroom conversation between Mark Menghi and a terminally ill Vietnam veteran.

Mother Of Sin features the brilliant master of thrash himself Bobby Blitz and it is perfect. Perfect for his voice and style leaving us wondering if anyone else could possibly have achieved the same lofty heights of style perfection. Surely It was written with Bobby, or with Bobby in mind at very least.

Mark Tornillo from Accept lends his unique and magnificent vocal skills to Terminal Illusion. This song and its predecessor are described as deeply personal and I offer an opportunity to listen to Dave Ellefson comment on that observation in the interview link above. But with Mark Tornillo as part of the creative process, this song could be nothing but monumentally brilliant. Herein lies linked a bridge to the European metal flavor to follow and what a link to offer. The American singer at the fore of the Teutonic Terror beckoning us to venture further into the euro metal offerings all under the banner of Metal Allegiance. King With A Paper Crown featuring Johan Hegg from Amon Amarth, just is utter perfection and leads us further down the aforementioned path.

The mighty Max Cavalera provides pure brilliance on Voodoo Of The Godsend which has an amazing video clip to accompany. If you have not yet had the opportunity to explore the video clip, I’m sure first glance will see you emerge with the words Max Cavalera at the fore of your description.

The brilliant Troy Sanders makes a most appropriate appearance on the album. Maybe too personal an opinion but Metal Allegiance would not be the same without Troy. He delivers Liars and Thieves in his own unique style and the crowd murmuring at the beginning of the song and a bell calling all to order is indicative of his creative touch.

Speaking of a creative touch, what eloquence in an expression of unity under the metal banner to have Killer Be Killed bandmates in Max and Troy sequenced one after the other.

Mark Osugeda from Death Angel performs phenomenally on Impulse Control and luckily there are enough words that rhyme with control, although I’m quite certain that is critical to arrange toll, soul, pole, and hole in thoughtful sequence.

Mark has such a brilliant skill set and available range that he could meet the challenge of almost any musical arrangement, but nevertheless, his style makes this track unmistakably his. He continues this phenomenally superb sound into Drunk Majesty Part I, the penultimate movement ushering in a fittingly triumphant finale of this collection which flows like a concert to end all concerts.

What better icon of metal to complete an album by using their unique style to bring finale in a manner more akin to being awakened from a dreamscape than Floor Jensen of Nightwish. Floor offers her utter melodic magic to complete this phenomenal collection to perfection in Drunk Majesty Part II.

The genius of this collection is only realised upon completion when you are left with a realisation that you want more and more of this magnificent journey. Subsequent spins, and hopefully in sequence bring further delight from this gift that keeps on giving. Sensational shredding styles that could not possibly be from a sole protagonist prompt further investigation and ultimately reveal that we have been enjoying the brilliant Andreas Kisser of Sepultura, the sensational Hurricane Nita Straus and a surprise inclusion of Joe Satriani. The latter of which was a onetime Alex Skolnick guitar teacher, pre Testament of course but a big surprise on this collection nonetheless.

This collection is a superb celebration by those united in metal, for all united by metal. This is by no means a follow on from the debut album, nor an attempt at replication or betterment. This is more a refinement akin to the maturing of a living, breathing entity.

I feel no requirement to stray off the path into individual accounts of the mind-blowing array of hooks, riffs, thrills and spills that adorn this superb creation and hope that this broad strokes overview provides description enough to adequately encourage others to delve into what will ultimately prove a powerfully fulfilling experience. A monumental experience built on Metal Allegiance. A finely crafted masterwork of metal magnificence that is Power Drunk Majesty. Bravura.